Can seaming machine



Sept. 29, 1936. F. w. BURPEE 2,055,993

CAN SEAMING MACHINE y i Filed Oct, 27, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l sept. 29,1936. F. w. BURPEE 2,055,998

CAN SEAMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 27, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FrankrB10/',066y ,Bq Jaw Y 73nd,)

Patented Sept. 29, 1936 imi'riazo STATES' V2,055,998 CAN SEAMING MACHINEFrank W. Burpee," Chicago, Ill., assignorto Burpee Can Sealer Company,Chicago, lll., a corporation Vof Illinoisl Application october 27, 1934,semaine 750,277

12 claims. (01113-23) Fig. 5 is a cross sectional detail taken on theThis invention relates to the art of can seaming machines, havingreference more particularly to hand operated machines designed fordomestic canning operations, and more particularly to a known type ofsuchmachines wherein the seaming roller or rollers are actuated inproperly timed relation by and from the means by which the chucks orlike devices that hold the can and its cover are actuated -during theseaming operation, so that the machine can be operated by one hand, Y

One object of the invention is .to provide a simplified and improvedmechanism whereby both the chucks and the seaming lroller or rollers canbe operated by and from the chuck-actuating crank.

My present improvements are applicable to a machine adapted to seal cansof a 'singleor uniform diameter, and also machinesr adapted to seam cansof varying diameters and employing a plurality of chuck devices forholding the cans, machines of the latter type being typicallyillustrated in my former Patents 1,486,225, March 11, 1924, and1,959,018, May 15, 1934; and in this application I have shown myimprovements applied to a machine of the typev shown in the lastnamedpatent. A further object of the invention, as applied to a machine ofthat type is to provide a new and improved means V'for locking each armof the chuck carrier'in correct working position when the chuck carriedthereby hasbeen adjusted to correct position for cooperation'with thecan seaming rolleror rollers.

Still other objects and attendant .advantages of the invention will beapparent to persons familiar with this art as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated onepractical and approved embodiment of the principle of the invention, andin which:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machineshowing the smaller of the twodriven chucks in working position and the seaming rollers in correctposition for the start of the seaming operation.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the upper portion of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation ofthe upper portion of the machine, showingthe two upper chucks reversed as to position and the pivoted locking barand seaming roller actuating mechanism carried thereby swung upwardly toadmit the larger chuck to working position.

line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional detail oiTset line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary-plan view on an enlarged scale showing index`devices for determining the correct starting position. e

I will rst describe those structural features of the present machinethat, are Substantially identical'with the machine of my Patent 1,959,-018, vand I will then proceed to describe the novel improvements formingthe chief subject matter of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the machine employs a generally rectangularframe comprising a base bar Ill, spaced uprights II and I2 on said basebar, and a horizontal top bar I3 connecting and rigidly spacing theupper ends of the uprights II and I2. Revolubly mountedon the uppershouldered end of the upright I2 is a chuck carrier formed withoppositely extending arms I4 and I5 directly beneath and parallel withthe top bar I 3. Pivotallymounted in the end portions of the arms I4 andI5 are upper chucks I6 and taken the I'I respectively, the formerbeingof a lesser di- 1 ameter than the latter. The peripheral edges of thesechucks, as usual in Vmachines of this type, are formed to engage theinner side of the recess of the can cover adjacent to thebeading edge,and are knurled to effect a driving hold on the can cover Vrwhen the4latter is pressed upwardly into engagement with the chuck. It will beobserved that the axes of rotation of the two chucks I6 and I'I'Vare atdifferent distances from the axis of rotation of the chuck carrier, thepurpose of this being to bring the peripheral edge of each chuck intocorrect working relation to the can seaming mechanism hereinafterdescribed. Rigidly secured on the upper sides yof theI chuck I6 `and I'Iare driven bevel gears I8 and I9 respectively.

Journaled on the shouldered upper end of the frame upright I I is thehub 20 of a seaming roller carrier or support 2I,Lon which latter arejournaled the primary and secondary seaming rollers 22 and 23 and also,preferably, a cutting roller 24 which may be employed for cutting ofi'the toplof a previously lled and sealed can to empty the contents of thelatter. For hand manipulation lof the cutting roller 24 the support ZIis equipped with a handle 25.

Mounted on the base bar In is a slide 26, secured onv which is a post21. A lower chuck 2i! has a hub 29 slidable and .rota-table on the post21. Beneath and supporting the lower end' of the hub 29 is a cam 30adapted to be engaged by a cross pin 3I in the post 21. On the cam 3U isa handle 32 by which the cam is rotated to thereby, through cooperationwith the pin 3|, raise or lower the chuck 28. The slide 26 is normallylocked stationary relatively to the base IIJ by a machine screw 33extending through a slot 34 in the slide and screwed into the base I0.The other slightly raised end of the slide 26 rests on one of a pair ofclamp brackets 35 by which the machine is mounted on a table or bench 36and is equipped with a pair of upstanding lugs 31, between whichoperates an eccentric cam 38 fast on the lower end of a sleeve 39 thatisY rotatable on the frame upright I2 and at its upper end is keyed tothe chuck carrier. From the foregoing it will be seen that when theclamp screw 33 is loosened and the chuck carrier is rotated, the slide26 will be simultaneously shifted endwise to carry the axis of the lowerchuck 28 into registry with the axis of whichever chuck I6v or I'I is inworking position. The chuck plate 28 is of proper diameter to engagewiththe shallow recess in the bottom of the larger diameter can body. Whenoperating on the smaller diameter can, the chuck 28 is covered by anadapter 28' formed with a low can-engaging head 4I! that ts the smallercan.

Turning now to a description of my present improvements, 4I designatesas an entirety a locking bar of inverted U-shape in cross section thatsurmounts the top bar I3 of .the frame,V the side walls thereof beingsufficiently deep to straddle not only the top bar I3, but theunderlying arm I4 or I5 of the chuck carrier. The front wall of thislocking bar is formed with a longitudinal slot 42 (Fig. 1) through whichextends a threaded pivot stud 43 that is screwed into a tapped hole inthe top bar I3. When the two chucks are reversed, it is necessary toshift the locking bar a slight distance endwise, and it is alsonecessary to swing the locking bar upwardly out of the Way (as shown inFig. 4) This construction permits both of these movements.

Referring to Figs. Zand 5r in the front wall of the locking bar 41I ismounted a stud 44 on which is journaled a drive pinion 45 adapted tomesh with either of the driven gears I8 and I9 of the two chucks. Fastwith the hub of the pinion 45 is a crank arm 46 equipped with a handle4T.

On the top sides of the chucks I6 and lI and encircling, the drivenYgears I8 and I9. thereof, are spiral gears 48 and 46. Inv the rear sidewall of the locking bar 4 I is mounted a pivot-stud 56 (Fig. 6)journal'ed. on which is a. gear 5l having inclined teeth that areengaged by the spira. gears 48 and 49, The construction is such thatacom.- plete rotation of the spiral gear. rotatesA the gear 5I one tooth.In the rear side of the gear 5-I is mounted a stud 52 on which isjournaled a cam roller or follower 53, best shown: in Fig., 3. In therear wall of the locking bar 4I are mounted a pair of spaced studs 54that form supports for a reciprocable bar 55 which is formed withslots56 that ride on the studs54. This barA 55 is further formed with a camslot 5l that is engaged by the cam follower 53 and is so designed as toeffect reciprocating movements of the bar 55 from the continuous rotarymovement of the gear 5I. One end of the bar 55 is forked and aperturedasshown at 55' to receive one end of a link 58, the other end of whichlink is pivoted at 59 to a short radial arm 60 on the hub 20 of theseaming. roller support 2I.. Since the locking bar,4I and parts carriedthereby require to be shifted endwise when adjusting the machine toreceive cans of a different diameter, the length of the operatingconnection between the gear 5I and the arm EG of the seaming mechanismmust be correspondingly adjusted and this is effected by providing twospaced holes 6I and 62 (Fig. 2) in the link 58, the former of which isengaged by the removable threaded pin 63 when the smaller diameter chuckis in working position, and the latter by the same pin when the largerdiameter chuck is in working position.

A clamp screw 64 extending through a hole in the top wall of the lockingbar 4I engages with one or the other of a pair of tapped holes G5 inthetop bar I3 to thereby lock the said locking bar and the gears 45 and5I that are journaled thereon in working position.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 7, the top wall of the locking bar 4I ispreferably supplied with an index mark such as the arrow 66, and one ofthe teeth of thegear 5I is supplied with a cooperating index mark suchas the groove 6'! formed in one of the gear teeth.

Inthe operation of the machine, the handle 46 is first turned until theindex mark 6i registers'with the index mark 65. In this position theprimary and secondary seaming rollers 22 and 23 are sufficiently spacedfrom the upper chuck I 6 or I'I'- to permit the chucking of the can,which is done by simply placing the can and loosely applied end on thelower chuck and swinging the hand'l`e`32 toA raise the top of the caninto register with the upper chuck and securely clamp the can betweenthe two chucks. The crank 46 is then turned clockwise, viewing Fig. lwhich first sets up a slow inward travel of the reciprocating bar 55Vand its associated link 58, thus causing the primary seaming roller 22to approach and engage with the periphery of the can cover to be seamed.Continued rotation oi the crank 46 then causes an outward movement ofbar 55 and link 58. which retracts the primary seaming roller and causesthe secondary roller 23 to approach and engage with the periphery of thecan cover, effecting the nal sealing operation. Still further rotationof the crank 46 again causes an inward movement of bar 55 and its link58, bringing both seaming rollers substantially into the startingposition wherein both are spaced from the sealed edge of the can so thatthe lower chuck can be lowered and the sealed can removed.

When it is desired to operate the machine with the other chuck inworking position, the pins 63 and 64 are both withdrawn. Thisdisconnects the link 58 from the bar 55, and the linkrnay be swung toone side as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. They clamp pin 64having been withdrawn from the top bar I3, the locking bar 4I and theparts carried thereby can be swung upwardly and rearwardly on the' stud43 as a pivot to the position shown in Fig. 4. The chuck carrier is thenswung through degrees which, at the Sametime, shifts the lower chuck toproper position to cooperate with the different diameter can, thelocking bar is then lowered and at the same time shifted endwise to therequired extent to accurately position the drive pinion 45 forengagement with the driven gear on the chuck, the clamp pin 64 isreapplied, and the link 58 is4 again connected to thevbar 55 by the pin63. The crank. is then turned to bring the index markers 66v and 6'Iinto registry, the can is chucked, and the described cycle is thenrepeated.

W'hen it may be desired to open a previously lled and sealed can, thelink 58 is first disconabbassa nected from the bar 55, rthe roller',support 2l is then swungbythe handle to a position wherein the cuttingroller 24 lies adjacent to the upper chuck, the can isrthen chucked androtated and simultaneously the cutting roller 24 is pressed against thewall of the can by the handle 251, severingr the wall Aof the can justbelow the lid or cover.

It is believed lthat the foregoing description, in connection with thedrawings, will make clear how the machine eifectuates the statedvpurposes and objects of the invention. The old practice of pressing theseaming rollers into cooperative engagement with the periphery of thecan cover with one hand, while rotating the chuck with the other, isdone away with, and the seaming rollers are automatically operated inproper sequence by and from the turning of the chuck crank alone,thereby substantially simplifying the operationof the machine. Thedescribed locking bar not only serves as a carrier for the drive pinionand the transmission gear 5i, and as a support for themovementtransmitting bar 55, but, by reason of the fact that'its sidewalls are sufficiently deep to straddle both the top bar I3 and thechuck carrier arm l or l5, it serves to accurately align the said partsand prevents any lateral play of the car- .v rier arm during theoperation of the machine.

This invention may be developed within the scope of the following claimswithout departing from its essential features, and the specification anddrawings are to be read as merely illustrative and not in a limitingsense, except as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim: Y Y l. In a'can seaming machine, the combination with asuitable frame, upper and lower chucks rotatably mounted therein, aseaming roller support journaled on said frame, and a seaming rollerjournaled on said support, of means for rotating one of said chucks, areciprocable member operatively connected at one end thereof to saidsupport, a gear on said upper chuck, and means driven by said gear forreciprocating said reciprocable member when said uppervchuok is rotated.

2. In a can seaming machine, the combination with a suitable frame,upper and lower chucks rotatably mounted therein, a seaming rollersupport journaled on said frame, and a seaming roller journaled on saidsupport, of means for rotating one of said chucks, a reciprocable memberoperatively connected at one end thereof to said support, a spiral gearon said upper chuck, a second gear engaged with and driven by saidspiral gear, and operating means for said reciprocable member betweensaid second gear and said reciprocable member and actuated by saidsecond gear.

3. In a can seaming machine, the combination with a suitable frame,upper and lower chucks rotatably mounted therein, a seaming rollersupport journaled on said frame, and a seaming roller journaled on saidsupport, of means for rotating one of said chucks, a reciprocable memberoperatively connected at one end thereof to said support, a cam on saidreciprocable member, a spiral gear on said upper chuck, a second gearengaged with and driven by said spiral gear, and a cam follower on saidsecond gear engaged with said cam.

4.. In a can seaming machine, the combination with a suitable frame,upper and lower chucks rotatably mounted therein, a seaming rollersupport jour'nal'edlon said frame, and a seaming roller journaled onsaid support, of means for rotating one of said chucks, a slidablysupported bar having a cam slot, a link pivoted at one end to saidbar-andat its other end to said support, a spiralY gear on said upperchuck, a second gear engaged'with and driven by said spiral gear, and acam follower on said second gear engaged with said cam slot,

' 5. Ina can seaming machine, the combination of a frame ,including atop bar, a chuck carrier pivotallymounted on said frame formed withradially extending arms each movable to a position parallel withV andunderlying said top bar, chucks of different diameters pivotally mountedrespectively on said arms at different distances fromthe axis ofrotation of said chuck carrier, gears adapted to be .driven on therespective chucks, a locking b arof inverted U-shape in crosssectionsurmounting said top bar, the sides whereof are adapted to Ystraddlesaidtop bar and an underlying armv of said chuckv carrier, means forsecuring said locking bar in adjusted position on said top bar, and adrive pinion and operating crank therefor Vmounted on said locking bar.

6, In a can seaming machine, the combination of a frame including a topbar, a chuck carrier pivotally mounted on said frame formedwith radiallyextending arms each movable to a position parallel with and underlyingsaid top bar, chucks of different diameters pivotally mountedrespectively on said arms at diiferent distances from the axis ofrotation of said chuck carrier,

gears adapted to be driven on the respective chucks, an -endwiseshiftable locking bar of inverted U-shape in cross-section pivotallymounted on said top bar, the sides whereof are adapted to straddle saidtop bar and an underlying arm of `said chuck carrier, a clamp screwextending through a wall of said locking bar and engaged with a tappedhole in said top bar, and a drive pinion and operating crank thereforjournaled on a side wall of said locking bar.

'7. In a can seaming machine, the combination with a suitable frame, ofcan seaming means including a seaming roller and a support thereforpivotally mounted on a member of said frame, a plurality of rotatableupper chucks of different diameters carried by said frame each bodilymovable into and out of position to cooperate with v said can seamingmeans, chuck rotating means, a

gear on each of said chucks, a lengthwise adjustable reciprocable memberoperatively connected at one end thereof to said support, and meansengaged with and driven by the gear of the chuck in can seaming positionfor actuating said reciprocable member when said last named chuck isrotated.

8. In a can seaming machine, the combination with a suitable frame, ofcan seaming means including a seaming roller and a support thereforpivotally mounted on a member of said frame, a

plurality of rotatable upper chucks of different diameters carried bysaid frame each bodily movable into and out of position to cooperatewith said can seaming means, a .gear adapted to be driven and a spiralgear on each of said chucks, a lengthwise adjustable reciprocable memberoperatively connected at one end thereof to said support, bodilyshiftable means engaged with and driven by the spiral gear of the chuckin can seaming position for actuating said reciprocable member when saidlast named chuck is rotated, a bodily shiftable drive pinion adapted toengage with the driven gear of a chuck when the latter is in canscanningV position, means for locking eachchuck in can seaming position.

9. In a can' seaming machine, the combination of a frame having atopbar, can seaming means including a seaming roller and a support thereforpivotally mounted on a member of said frame, a chuck carrier pivotallymountedV on said liframe formed with radially extending arms eachmovable to a position parallel with and underlying said top bar, chucksof different diameters pivotally mounted respectively on said arms atdifferent distances from the axis of rotation of said chuck carrier, agear adapted to be driven and a spiral gear on each of said chucks, alengthwise adjustable locking bar of inverted U-shape in cross sectionsurmounting said topy bar, the sides whereof are adapted to straddlesaid top bar and an underlying arm of said chuck carrier, a lengthwiseadjustable reciprocable member slidably supported on said locking barand operatively connected at one end thereof to said support, meansmounted on said locking bar engaged with and drivenby the spiral gear ofthe chuck in can seaming position for actuating said reciprocable memberwhen said last-named chuck is rotated, a drive pinion mounted on saidlocking bar adapted to engage with the driven gear of a chuck when thelatter is in can seaming position, and means for locking said lockingbar in adjusted position.

10. In a can seaming machine, the combination of a frame having a topbar, can seaming means including a seaming roller and a support thereforpivotally mounted on a member of said frame, a chuck carrier pivotallymounted on said frame formed with radially extending arms each movableto a position parallel with and underlying said top bar, chucks ofdifferent diameters pivotally mounted respectively on said arms atdiierent distances from the axis of rotation of said chuck carrier, agear adapted to be driven and a spiral gear on each of said chucks, alengthwise adjustable llocking bar of inverted U-shape in cross sectionpivotally mounted on said top bar, the sides whereof are adapted tostraddle said top bar and an underlying arm of said chuck carrier, alengthwise adjustable reciprocable member slidably supportedV on saidlocking bar and operatively connected at one end thereof to saidsupport, a gear mounted on said locking bar engaged with and drivenbythe spiral gear of the chuck in can seaming position, a cam on saidreciprocable member, a cam follower mounted on said lastnamedgearengaged with said cam, a drive pinion mounted on said locking baradapted to engage with the driven gear of a chuck when the latter is incan seaming position, and means for locking said locking bar in adjustedposition.

11. In a can seaming machine, the combination with a suitable frame,upper and lower chucks rotatably mounted therein, a seaming rollersupport journaled on said frame, and a seaming roller journaled on saidsupport, of means for rotating one of said chucks, a reciprocable memberoperatively connected at one end thereof to said support, and powertransmitting means from said upper chuck to said reciprocable memberactuated by sai-d upper chuck for reciprocating said member when saidupper chuck is rotated.

l2. In a can seaming machine, the combination with a suitable frame,upper and lower chucks rotatably mounted therein, a seaming rollersupport journaled on said frame, and a seaming roller journaled on saidsupport, of means for rotating one oi said chucks, a slidably supportedbar, a link pivoted at one end to said bar and at its other end to saidsupport, and power transmitting means from said upper chuck to said baroperated by said upper chuck for reciprocating said bar when said upperchuck is rotated.

FRANK W. BURPEE.

